People can and will bring more of themselves to work when they’re making the world a better place, according to Daniel Aronson, a business strategist for IBM’s Global Business Services.

Aronson, who spoke at a recent Social Responsibility Executive Roundtable, said employees will make the world better, faster, more profitably when they can prove and improve their efforts.

Aronson also said that consumers and customers care about social responsibility – and believe business should.

See more on his presentation via this Powerpoint.

Three key outcomes-including measuring results-were identified as part of a Social Responsibility (SR) Think Tank hosted by ASQ (American Society for Quality) November 16-17.

National thought leaders were invited to the event as part of ASQ’s ongoing SRO (Social Responsibility Organization) movement facilitated by Clem Bezold, a world-renown futurist, and chair and founder of the Institute of Alternative Futures.

For full story see the Press Release

The Draft International Standard, DIS, was released September 14, 2009 under the governing body International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in Geneva, Switzerland, which expects to publish the final ISO 26000 in mid-to-late 2010. 

ASQ is encouraging businesses and organizations to review the document and provide feedback on the draft standard at standards@asq.org by the public comment due date of December 14, 2009.  ASQ will share the public comments with the US TAG for consideration, as its subject matter experts help finalize ISO 26000.

ASQ believes that, to be socially responsible, people and organizations must behave ethically and with sensitivity toward social, cultural, economic, and environmental issues.  Organizations that demonstrate a commitment to social responsibility create new opportunities that can impact operations in ways that positively contribute to bottom-line results.

We invite you to help us identify organizations that are paving the way using quality tools and successful social responsibility practices to achieve a sustainable future.  These organizations will be featured in the second issue of Pathways to Social Responsibility:  Successful Practices for Sustaining the Future.  Share the impact being a socially responsible organization has had on your operations and your community by submitting a social responsibility profile.  Deadline for submissions is October 1, 2009.  Share you story here or email sro@asq.org.

Potawatomi Bingo Casino, located in Milwaukee Wisconsin, is one of two casinos owned and operated by the Forest County Potawatomi Community.  As a Native American-owned business, it has a long history of being socially responsible.  In that tradition it has focused its operational efforts on five key areas that will enable it to have the strongest positive impact on the community:  responsible play, sustainable business practices, valuing team members, sharing cultural heritage and caring for the community. 

The SRO initiative looks to help the world understand the value of social responsibility and the role quality has in achieving results.  By positively contributing to operations that are social, cultural, economic and environmental, Potawatomi Bingo Casino has demonstrated that socially reponsible organizations can use quality practices to make a difference.  Read more here.